Rare Giant Salamanders Found in Washnigton

A water works crew for the Washington state city of Newcastle were shocked to find two Pacific giant salamanders.

The creatures are said to be rare to begin with and are nocturnal and elusive. However, several residents note they are familiar with the species and used to see them quite often in the 90s. The city has decided to post signs around drains requesting no dumping. The signs will bear logos of salmon and giant salamanders.

[NOTE: I know I could look it up, but I am a little busy; I included the "amphibians" tag but I do not know for certain that salamanders are amphibians. If I am wrong, please let me know. Thanks!]

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Rarest Tree Frog Spotted

The rarest tree frog in the world, once thought to be extinct, has been spotted by a researcher in Costa Rica.

The Isthmohyla rivularis was thought to have died-out some two decades ago, but a scientist spotted a male last year, leading to more research.  Scientists have since discovered a female and several more males, suggesting the species is breeding nicely, though the frog remains a rarity.  The female was carrying an egg sac.

Source: BBC

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Floridians Face Plague o' Frogs

At least one neighborhood in Central Florida is covered in frogs.

An estimated 1 million frogs have descended on the neighborhood, invading cars and homes. One resident implored neighbors to pray because s/he "think[s] it's a plague, I do."

Experts say the rain and warm weather have created perfect conditions for incubating eggs and changes in environmental factors will eventually curb the population.  For now, praying may be all the Floridians can do.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

The Great Frog Hunt

Frog populations have declined dramatically throughout the world in recent decades, thanks largely to an previously unknown fungus which is effectively smothering the amphibians.  We have covered this before, as many scientists insist other factors have contributed, though most agree the fungus in question is the primary cause for the population crash.

Now scientists have been given unprecedented access to the Costa Rican rainforests, where they hope to capture specimens from several endangered species and return them to research facilities.  The effort is as much for conservation as information.  In particular, scientists are looking for the rare Golden Toad, which was first discovered in 1966 and has not been seen since.

BBC cameras will document the frog hunt.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Frog From Hell

Last month, scientists unearthed the fossilized remains of Beelzebufo, or "the frog from hell."

The 9-lb., 16" toad was among the largest of its kind ever discovered to-date.  Related to today's horned toads, this one had short legs and a giant mouth.  It most likely preyed on small animals using the ambush techniques of its modern-day relatives.

Researchers added the the discovery bolstered the notion that the Madagascar island and South American landmasses could have been joined at some point in history, as the frog is strikingly different from those indigenous to the island, but closely-related to those found in South America.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Fewer Leaves Led to Frogs' Decline

Now We Know What Happened to Pepe!

Scientists working in Costa Rica have come to a startling conclusion as to the decline of the frogs' species in the region after studying 35+ years' worth of data: Fewer leaves on the ground seem to be the cause.

A fungal infection was previously assumed to be the culprit, but scientists noticed that the population of lizards who were immune to the infection were also in decline.  Amphibians have declined by up to 75% since 1970, yet scientists insist there is no human cause-effect relationship -- such as the destruction of their habitat by encroaching industrial efforts.  This percentage in decline directly correlated with the decline in leaf litter on the ground, which provides the creatures with both food and shelter.

The new suspect?

Global warming.

UPDATE:  "Global Warming" or -- as we Old Folk were taught to call it --"The Greenhouse Effect," is a very real, and very direct, by-product of Industrial pollution -- specifically, fossil fuel consumption and the eradication of millions of miles of trees and foliage (especially in tropical rainforests, such as the Amazon).  The "Scientific Community" refuses to acknowledge this because they are intellectually dishonest, and corrupt to the core; they would rather soak-up "free" grant money (that we taxpayers are forced to provide to further such MISO) than stand-up to the corporate giants responsible.  The few who do often wind-up featured on this blog as dead or missing.

However, there are some (too few) within the scientific community who refuse to be terrorized into silence and submission.  They never receive "mainstream" coverage but, once again, they do receive coverage on The OddBlog.  Then they wind-up dead or missing (so we get two posts out of the deal).

Fewer leaves on the ground means fewer trees, not "Global Warming."  That's common sense -- which is why mainstream "scientists" can't seem to figure that out.  We hope they enjoy cashing the checks we (and the oil companies) provide. - 2018